Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 25839 — Fairdale, WV

ZIP code 25839 (Fairdale, Raleigh County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 25839 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 10
2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fairdale, WV…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Fairdale, WV

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Beckley Va Hospital, WV — 11 miles away, elevation 2,330 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 25839

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 10) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 25839 came on Mar 8 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6b in West Virginia

506 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in West Virginia, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 68

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 102

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 178

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 134

arctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbitter panicgrass5 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Vines 11

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fheartleaf peppervine2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −8 °Fmuscadine30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −18 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Fairdale, WV.

Soil in Fairdale, WV

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 25839 is Highsplint — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Highsplint channery loam, 3 to 15 percent slopes, very stony.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 25839; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fairdale, WV

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights140nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,502base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 47 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation49.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 21 °F 43°21° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 27 °F 51°27° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 36 °F 63°36° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 58 °F 79°58° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 57 °F 78°57° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 4.21 in precipitation 4.2 MarApril: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 AprMay: 5.49 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 SepOctober: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 OctNovember: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Beckley Va Hospital, WV (11 mi away); precipitation: Dry Creek, WV (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

258176b
Bolt, WV · 2 mi
258446b
Glen Daniel, WV · 3 mi
251806b
Saxon, WV · 3 mi
250076b
Arnett, WV · 4 mi
258486b
Glen Rogers, WV · 4 mi
258656b
Lester, WV · 5 mi
259326b
Surveyor, WV · 5 mi
258366b
Eccles, WV · 5 mi

West Virginia planting zones →

Questions about 25839

What planting zone is ZIP code 25839?

ZIP code 25839 (Fairdale, WV) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Fairdale, WV?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 25839 is May 6; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beckley Va Hospital station.

When is the first frost in Fairdale, WV?

The median first fall frost near 25839 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 25839?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 25839 get?

About 49.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dry Creek station).

How hot do summers get in Fairdale, WV?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 25839 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Highsplint at the center of ZIP 25839: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Fairdale, WV in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 25839 came on Mar 8 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fairdale, WV?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 25839 is 14 h 47 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 25839 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 25839 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.